Completed Event: Softball at Seton Hall on March 28, 2026 , Win , 11, to, 2 , (6 innings)
Softball
at Seton Hall
Final
11
-
2
(6 innings)
Providence College Athletics
Q&A With Former Softball Student-Athlete Hadley Tate '19
7/9/2020 10:32:00 AM | Softball
Tate is currently in the process of applying to Physician Assistant Schools and has worked as a clinical assistant.
Q: Reflecting on your career with the softball team, specifically your senior season in 2019, you were a part of program's first BIG EAST Tournament appearance since 2005. What did that mean to you personally to experience that as a student-athlete?
Throughout my athletic career, the goal was always BIG EAST. My freshman through junior years, I was a part of incredibly dedicated and talented team, but we always fell just short of qualifying for the tournament. The 2019 BIG EAST Tournament run was truly the highlight of my collegiate career. As a senior class, we always had the goal of making it to BIG EAST, and it was so amazing to be able to have that goal come to fruition as a senior. Sharing that experience with my teammates, specially my fellow seniors was such a special experience I will forever remember. We were thrilled to make the run at the BIG EAST Championship and look forward to seeing how the team will build off of this success in the future.
Q: The team earned a sweep of two league opponents during the regular-season and won 5 of its final 6 BIG EAST games to complete the regular-season schedule and finish third in the BIG EAST standings. As players, were you aware of how critical the final two series were against Butler and Georgetown to gain the qualification and what was the vibe like on the team in such an important stage of the year?
The final weeks of the regular season were truly where we hit our stride. Though they were the most high-pressure games we played in, it was in those games that we had the most fun and absolutely were in sync. We all were completely locked in on the goal of making BIG EAST and played with an intensity and focus like no other team I had played on before. After we won our final game at Georgetown and realized we most likely had qualified for BIG EAST, I remember Coach K announcing to us we had hit a 30 win season and I just burst into tears! We had been so focused and it truly had not set in how much we had already accomplished that season.
Q: Academically, you were a biology major, and performed well in the class room. How did you balance life as a student-athlete to ensure you were at your best in each area?
I have always had a passion for my studies, particularly in science, and my athletic pursuits. My time management skills were absolutely tested throughout my career, especially as a freshman. However, I found that as I had a tighter schedule due to my athletic commitments, I became more productive in the free time I had scheduled. As my academic career progressed, I became more interested in the in-depth biology classes I was taking, which enabled me to thrive in the classroom. My coaches were always super supportive of my academic schedule, as I typically had labs interfering with practice. The coaches were amazingly adaptable and always available for me to practice in between my classes and labs. They were so supportive of my academic pursuits and I truly would not have had the success I did without their help.
Q: You assumed a leadership role as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council. Talk about your experience with SAAC, and how that added to your overall experience as a student-athlete?
I joined SAAC as a freshman and absolutely loved being involved as a member of the committee. I always have had a passion for both leadership and community service, and being a member allowed me to pursue both of these. SAAC gave me a voice within the athletic department and on campus. I think the most major growth I saw throughout my four years was the mental health initiatives enacted for student athletes on campus. I have always been passionate about mental health, and felt it especially important for student athletes. I was excited to contribute to growing these initiatives, and loved the perspective it gave me as a teammate. Through my participation on SAAC, I felt I became a better teammate, as I was able to communicate effectively all updates and encourage participation within my team.
Q: If there was a prospective student-athlete deciding on what college or university to attend, and came to you for advice on your experience at Providence College, what would you tell him/her to help guide them in their decision?
As soon as I got to Providence, it felt like home. It was a feeling I cannot quite describe or pinpoint because of any specific attribute. I have heard this sentiment from classmates of mine, specifically student-athletes. The biggest piece of advice I would offer prospective student-athletes is to ensure they love the school with and without athletics. It is so important to find a school that not only fits with your academic and career interests but also is somewhere they are able to see themselves thriving socially. In the blink of an eye, athletic status can change due to injuries or unforeseen circumstances such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic. I find it to be super important to love a school for both the athletic program and also everything else the school has to offer.
Q: What can you say about the facility enhancements at Providence College? Not only did you benefit as a student-athlete and member of the softball program, but also academically, with the recent opening of the science complex?
I was blessed to have access to the brand new softball complex in my freshman year at PC. From there on, I witnessed an exponential growth of the facilities available to student-athletes. From the amazing softball complex to the Ruane Friar Development Center, by my senior year, I felt our facilities rivaled that of any top athletic school in the nation. I am so grateful to have been able to utilize all of the recent facility upgrades. Particularly, as a biology major, I was also able to attend lectures in the brand new science complex. These advancements positively improved my educational experience and I am so excited to see future student-athletes thrive here.
Q: What are some of your fondest memories of Providence College?
Once again, some of my best memories are during my senior year with my teammates. Between our run at the BIG EAST and incredible success during that season, I truly had some of the best times throughout that year. Other fond memories include various science classes I took, particularly Physiology with Dr. Waters, Organic Chemistry with Dr. Pike, and my Independent Study with Dr. Hackey. So many of my professors went the extra mile for me, accommodating my sometimes hectic practice and travel schedule to ensure I was getting the education I needed. One of my other favorite memories was a dinner party I went to, organized by my Development of Western Civ professors- Dr. Arroyo, Dr. Bennett, and Dr. Mulderry. Beyond the amazing friendships I formed while at PC, I treasure the valued memories and connections I made with my dedicated professors.
Q: What have you been doing since graduation in 2019? Q: What is your ultimate career goal? And what are the steps you envision taking to reach that goal?
After graduation, I started a job as a clinical assistant at Cape Cod Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. Through working in the clinic, I have mastered skills of cast application and removal, splinting and splint removal, suture removal, staple removal, bracing, prepping of injection sites, drawing of injections, and proper biohazard disposal. I have experience working with post-operative patients across all types of orthopedic surgery. In the past couple months, I have submitted applications to Physician Assistant school, which is my ultimate career goal. I am excited to join a career path where I can utilize the skills of teamwork and collaboration I developed as a student-athlete.
Q: The current coaching staff is working hard on alumni outreach, and has been setting up zoom calls to get the former players back together. How important is it for you to remain connected to the program and the College?
I feel very strongly about staying connected with PC. I have really enjoyed Zooming with players and fellow alumni and engaging in various discussions, especially sharing some experiences from my first year of post-grad life. I also have enjoyed serving as a Class Ambassador for the Class of 2019 working with Alumni Relations. Though most activities have been halted due to the pandemic, it has been so awesome for me to be a part of this side of PC and contribute to keeping alumni connected with PC.
Throughout my athletic career, the goal was always BIG EAST. My freshman through junior years, I was a part of incredibly dedicated and talented team, but we always fell just short of qualifying for the tournament. The 2019 BIG EAST Tournament run was truly the highlight of my collegiate career. As a senior class, we always had the goal of making it to BIG EAST, and it was so amazing to be able to have that goal come to fruition as a senior. Sharing that experience with my teammates, specially my fellow seniors was such a special experience I will forever remember. We were thrilled to make the run at the BIG EAST Championship and look forward to seeing how the team will build off of this success in the future.
Q: The team earned a sweep of two league opponents during the regular-season and won 5 of its final 6 BIG EAST games to complete the regular-season schedule and finish third in the BIG EAST standings. As players, were you aware of how critical the final two series were against Butler and Georgetown to gain the qualification and what was the vibe like on the team in such an important stage of the year?
The final weeks of the regular season were truly where we hit our stride. Though they were the most high-pressure games we played in, it was in those games that we had the most fun and absolutely were in sync. We all were completely locked in on the goal of making BIG EAST and played with an intensity and focus like no other team I had played on before. After we won our final game at Georgetown and realized we most likely had qualified for BIG EAST, I remember Coach K announcing to us we had hit a 30 win season and I just burst into tears! We had been so focused and it truly had not set in how much we had already accomplished that season.
Q: Academically, you were a biology major, and performed well in the class room. How did you balance life as a student-athlete to ensure you were at your best in each area?
I have always had a passion for my studies, particularly in science, and my athletic pursuits. My time management skills were absolutely tested throughout my career, especially as a freshman. However, I found that as I had a tighter schedule due to my athletic commitments, I became more productive in the free time I had scheduled. As my academic career progressed, I became more interested in the in-depth biology classes I was taking, which enabled me to thrive in the classroom. My coaches were always super supportive of my academic schedule, as I typically had labs interfering with practice. The coaches were amazingly adaptable and always available for me to practice in between my classes and labs. They were so supportive of my academic pursuits and I truly would not have had the success I did without their help.
Q: You assumed a leadership role as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council. Talk about your experience with SAAC, and how that added to your overall experience as a student-athlete?
I joined SAAC as a freshman and absolutely loved being involved as a member of the committee. I always have had a passion for both leadership and community service, and being a member allowed me to pursue both of these. SAAC gave me a voice within the athletic department and on campus. I think the most major growth I saw throughout my four years was the mental health initiatives enacted for student athletes on campus. I have always been passionate about mental health, and felt it especially important for student athletes. I was excited to contribute to growing these initiatives, and loved the perspective it gave me as a teammate. Through my participation on SAAC, I felt I became a better teammate, as I was able to communicate effectively all updates and encourage participation within my team.
Q: If there was a prospective student-athlete deciding on what college or university to attend, and came to you for advice on your experience at Providence College, what would you tell him/her to help guide them in their decision?
As soon as I got to Providence, it felt like home. It was a feeling I cannot quite describe or pinpoint because of any specific attribute. I have heard this sentiment from classmates of mine, specifically student-athletes. The biggest piece of advice I would offer prospective student-athletes is to ensure they love the school with and without athletics. It is so important to find a school that not only fits with your academic and career interests but also is somewhere they are able to see themselves thriving socially. In the blink of an eye, athletic status can change due to injuries or unforeseen circumstances such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic. I find it to be super important to love a school for both the athletic program and also everything else the school has to offer.
Q: What can you say about the facility enhancements at Providence College? Not only did you benefit as a student-athlete and member of the softball program, but also academically, with the recent opening of the science complex?
I was blessed to have access to the brand new softball complex in my freshman year at PC. From there on, I witnessed an exponential growth of the facilities available to student-athletes. From the amazing softball complex to the Ruane Friar Development Center, by my senior year, I felt our facilities rivaled that of any top athletic school in the nation. I am so grateful to have been able to utilize all of the recent facility upgrades. Particularly, as a biology major, I was also able to attend lectures in the brand new science complex. These advancements positively improved my educational experience and I am so excited to see future student-athletes thrive here.
Q: What are some of your fondest memories of Providence College?
Once again, some of my best memories are during my senior year with my teammates. Between our run at the BIG EAST and incredible success during that season, I truly had some of the best times throughout that year. Other fond memories include various science classes I took, particularly Physiology with Dr. Waters, Organic Chemistry with Dr. Pike, and my Independent Study with Dr. Hackey. So many of my professors went the extra mile for me, accommodating my sometimes hectic practice and travel schedule to ensure I was getting the education I needed. One of my other favorite memories was a dinner party I went to, organized by my Development of Western Civ professors- Dr. Arroyo, Dr. Bennett, and Dr. Mulderry. Beyond the amazing friendships I formed while at PC, I treasure the valued memories and connections I made with my dedicated professors.
Q: What have you been doing since graduation in 2019? Q: What is your ultimate career goal? And what are the steps you envision taking to reach that goal?
After graduation, I started a job as a clinical assistant at Cape Cod Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. Through working in the clinic, I have mastered skills of cast application and removal, splinting and splint removal, suture removal, staple removal, bracing, prepping of injection sites, drawing of injections, and proper biohazard disposal. I have experience working with post-operative patients across all types of orthopedic surgery. In the past couple months, I have submitted applications to Physician Assistant school, which is my ultimate career goal. I am excited to join a career path where I can utilize the skills of teamwork and collaboration I developed as a student-athlete.
Q: The current coaching staff is working hard on alumni outreach, and has been setting up zoom calls to get the former players back together. How important is it for you to remain connected to the program and the College?
I feel very strongly about staying connected with PC. I have really enjoyed Zooming with players and fellow alumni and engaging in various discussions, especially sharing some experiences from my first year of post-grad life. I also have enjoyed serving as a Class Ambassador for the Class of 2019 working with Alumni Relations. Though most activities have been halted due to the pandemic, it has been so awesome for me to be a part of this side of PC and contribute to keeping alumni connected with PC.
Softball vs Dayton
Thursday, April 02
Softball vs. Boston College
Tuesday, March 31
Softball vs Bryant
Wednesday, March 25
Softball vs DePaul
Saturday, March 21
